Animated display motor



1940- w. G. WAGENHALS ANIMATED DISPLAY MOTOR Filed Sept. 28, 19259 6 B INVENTOR i ATTORNEYS INSULAHON WITNESS Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in animated display devices and especially is concerned with a novel animated display motor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a motor suited to use in actuating animated dicplay's which, by reasons of the economy ofparts from which it is constructed, may be manufactured at low cost.

An advantage of the novelanimated display motor according to the present invention over other or similar types of animated display motors now commonly in use is its comparative simplicity and ruggedness of construction, the former well suiting the device'to the requirements of mass production and the latter minimizing necessity or likelihood of expensive upkeep of the device during ordinary conditions of use.

Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved animated display motor according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the novel animated display motor according to the present invention comprises in combination with a display board having stationary and movable elements, a swinging pendulum operably connected to said movable elements, a member of magnetically sensitive material mounted on said pendulum, and means for intrinsically creating magnetic disturbance in the vicinity of said pendulum which, acting upon the magnetically sensitive member, causes the pendulum to oscillate, thereby operating the movable elements of said display.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present'invention a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment, although presently preferred, is provided solely by way of example of the practice of this invention and not by way of limitation thereof except insofar as the invention is recited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawing:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a display panel including a motor according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is substantially a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 emphasizing structural details of the motor,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view, partially in section of the motor,

Fig. 4 is substantially a vertical sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. '1 showing details of construction of the pendulum mounting, and

Fig. 5 is substantially a perspective view of a modified form of pendulum useful in a motor 6 of the type according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein the animated display is generally designated by the reference character i0, it will be noted that the device comprises a stationary panel ii mainl0 tained in essentially vertical position by a support generally designated by the reference character Ha and movable display elements I! and iii. The display element i2 is mounted upon the supporting block lZa by a pivot lib whereby freely rotatable motion may be imparted to said display element by means hereinafter to be described.

The moving display element i3 is connected at its rear face with a bent end portion Ila of so the rod H by means of a clip i5 attached to the element I3 by appropriate fastening means such as a staple [5a. The horizontal central portion of the rod i4 is received in asleeve lfia mounted in an opening formed in a bar i6 which in turn is attached to the rear surface of the display panel ii. The sleeve preferably is made from oil soaked wood having self-lubricating qualities valuable in increasing the useful life of the device. It is to be understood that the sleeve I80- not only serves as a self-lubricating bearing for the rod H but also by projecting beyond the front surface of the display panel ii spaces the stationary and moving display elements.

The opposite end llb of the rod ll passes through an opening formed in the pendulum bar l1 and, bent downwardly, is attachedto said pendulum bar by fastening means such as, in this instance, the screw c. The lowermost end of the pendulum bar I! carries a weight IIa slid- 4o able along the bar but flxable in position by a set screw ilb mounted in an opening in the weight and abutting against the bar. A connector link I! mounted at one end in an opening in the pendulum bar i1 and attached at the other end to a portion of the moving display element l2 assures simultaneously movement of the moving display element.

A segmental magnetically sensitive member I! mounted upon the top end of the pendulum bar I! by appropriate mounting means Ila extends downwardly within the plane of movement of the pendulum, it being noted that the segmental member is positioned concentric with the axis of motion of the pendulum. The solenoid 20 havll ing end pieces 2| and 22, oppositely extending substantially as shown. is mounted upon the bar It by a bracket 22 attached to the bar by fastening means 28a, the bracket being connected to the solenoid end piece 2| essentially as is shown in Figs. 1 and 8. It is to be observed that during swinging motion of the pendulum I! the magnetically sensitive member I! moves within the solenoid 20. In the preferred embodiment of this invention the solenoid 20 is wound upon a core of magnetically insensitive material such as zinc, copper, brass or the like.

A thermostatic switch generally designated by the reference character 2| and comprising a thermostatic switch element 24d and adjusting means 241) is mounted upon the bar l6 by the fastening means 25 and is held rigidly in position by connection between the terminal 26 of-the switch and the terminal 26:: of the solenoid 20 mounted in the extended end portion of the solenoid end piece 22 as is shown in Fig. 3. The other terminal 21 of the thermostatic switch 24 is connected by a fusible link 21a with the other terminal of the solenoid 20, which, in this intance, is the metallic tube 20a hereinabove described. Wires 28 leading to a source of current are connected to the terminals of the thermostatic switch substantially as shown in Fig. 3 whereby the current supplied to the solenoid is interrupted by operation of the thermostatic switch.

In operation the thermostatic element 24a of the switch 24 intermittently connects the power source with the solenoid 20 whereby a magnetic field is set up in the vicinity of the solenoid effecting the magnetically sensitive member l9, thereby causing same to be drawn within the solenoid, with resultant swinging of the pendulum bar I! and movement of the display elements l2 and I 3. In the event. of overheating of the solenoid '20 or nearby parts of the apparatus, the fusible link 21a connecting the solenoid with the current supply will be destroyed, thereby disconnecting the device and rendering the same inoperative.

Having thus described the present invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

said panel; a pendulum, freely swingingly mount-- ed on parts of said bar, operably connected to at least one of said display elements; a segmental magnetically sensitive member mounted on said pendulum concentric with the axis of motion thereof; a solenoid having end pieces oppositely extending; a bracket mounted on said bar, attached to one of said solenoid end pieces supporting the same in a manner such that during oscillation of the pendulum, said segmental member moves within the solenoid; and a thermostatic electric switch, mounted on the other end of said solenoid for controlling current supplied to the solenoid.

2. In an animated display of the type including a display panel, cooperating freely swingingly mounted display elements on said panel, the improved means for causing swinging motion of said elements which comprise: a horizontally extending supporting bar mounted on the back of said panel; a pendulum,tfreely swingingly mounted on parts of said bar, operably connected to at least one of said display elements; a segmental magnetically sensitive member mounted on said pendulum concentric with the axis of motion thereof; a solenoid having end pieces oppositely extending; a bracket, mounted on said bar, attached to one of said solenoid end pieces supporting the same in a manner such that during oscillation of the pendulum, said segmental member moves within the solenoidya thermostatic electric switch, mounted on the other end of said solenoid for controlling current supplied to the solenoid; and a thermally fusible link connecting said thermostatic electric switch with said solenoid whereby overheating of the solenoid causes disconnection of the same from the current source. WILLIAM G. WAGENHALS. 

